The music scene in Anacortes may be lively, but if you factor out late night events and the pub scene, options are pretty limited for families whose pre-teen kids want to rock.

Cliff Verhoeff and the Snohomish Artist Guild plan to change all this with the inaugural Cap Sante Summer Concert Series, five great shows featuring well-known jazz and blues performers at 7 p.m. Fridays, July 25 to Aug. 22, at Cap Sante Boat Haven.

“They are totally family oriented performances,” Verhoeff said. “It’s bring your daughter and dance with your daughter. It’s dance music.”

The high-energy line-up of bands includes Michael Powers, who wowed crowds at last year’s Anacortes Jazz Festival; Alice Stuart, who is credited with paving the way for rockers such as Bonnie Raitt; Lady A and the Baby Blues Funk Band, with old school blues and funk; and Kim Archer Band, a heavy soul and groove jam band with a powerhouse singer.

The opening show July 25 features Becky Sue and her Big Rockin’ Daddies, a powerhouse, hip-shaking blues outfit that is seen frequently in local pubs.

Families will also find that the price is right: The concerts are free. The shows are primarily sponsored by businesses in the community and grants, although donations will be gratefully accepted from audiences.

“If you think it’s an awesome show, throw a dollar in the bucket,” Verhoeff said.

The stage will be set up in a gravel area near Cap Sante Boat Haven’s new promenade. Seats will be set up for 200, with standing room for 200 more people.

“Bring folding chairs, bring your family and dance,” he said.

There will be 10 corporate tables of eight available to donors and sponsors, who will be recognized with a reception at 7 p.m. on the opening night of the series. During the concerts, VIPs and sponsors will sample fare from downtown restaurants.

It costs about $3,000 per show to put the shows on, with about one-third of that going to the artists. Snohomish Artist Guild is a nonprofit organization that produces concerts, and Verhoeff said similar series the group puts on in Mill Creek and Des Moines are highly popular.

“We’re like the stellar event in town. People love it,” he said.

The series is not intended to draw tourists. It is a community event.

“We will market it only to the people of Anacortes. It’s all about the people of Anacortes coming together,” he said.

Verhoeff knows Anacortes well. He is a 1975 graduate of Anacortes High School and still has family here. He said a study deemed Anacortes “under served” for family-oriented events of this kind.

“Can you believe Anacortes is under served? There’s no funding or staff available for your parks department to run it,” he said.

He’d like to see the concerts on grass instead of gravel next year, or perhaps staged at the Port Dock.

“We average 500 people a night at these things, too big for Causland Park,” he said.

For more information on to ask about sponsorship, contact Verhoeff at (425) 303-1848 or visit http://www.sagpro.com.

Cap Sante Summer Concert Series schedule:

• July 25 – Becky Sue and Her Big Rockin Daddies - Dancing blues

• Aug. 1 – Lady A and the Baby Blues funk band – The name says it all

• Aug. 8 – Alice Stuart – Blues songwriter and performer

• Aug. 15 – Michael Powers – Seattle jazz guitar great

• Aug. 22 – The Kim Archer Band – Soul-filled dance music